In continuity with previous editions, the Costa Smeralda Award which has quickly established itself among the great cultural events within the national literary panorama, this year confirms the ample space given to the most original talents of contemporary culture and to the discussion of major current issues. Present the three finalists of the Award in the two awarded categories, Fiction and non-fictionselected from the vast panorama of Italian publishing production throughout the year, between one edition and another, by a jury of unquestionable quality made up of Lina Bolzoni, Marcello Fois, Elena Loewenthal and Chiara Valerio, led by Stefano Salis. The finalists of the 2024 edition, among which the overall winner will be announced on Saturday 4 May on the stage of the Conference Center in Porto Cervo during the public awards ceremony, are for the Storytelling: Ginevra Lamberti with “The well is worth more than time” (Marsilio), Eugenio Murrali with her debut novel “Marguerite was here” (Neri Pozza) and Evelina Santangelo with “The feeling of the sea” (Einaudi). The triplet of Nonfiction it is instead composed of: Vera Gheno with “Parole d’altro genre” (Rizzoli), Maurizio Ferraris with “Learning to live” (Editori Laterza) and Vincenzo Trione with “Prologo celeste. In Anselm Kiefer’s atelier” (Einaudi).
“After the last two very high-level editions of the Costa Smeralda Literary Prize, which saw the involvement of great international authors such as the Nobel Prize winner for literature Orhan Pamuk and the great French writer Emmanuel Carrère, together with numerous protagonists of Italian culture – he comments Renzo Persicopresident of Costa Smeralda Consortium – our Consortium kicks off, with renewed enthusiasm, the events of 2024 with an event of recognized excellence in the national cultural panorama. The Award, created with the aim of making a contribution to the world of great Italian culture, is also a space for meeting and dialogue between young talents and established artists.”
“The valorization of young talents and the discussion on the major global themes of this edition, such as those relating to climate change and the protection of natural resources – declares Mario Ferraro, vice-president of the Costa Smeralda Consortium – confirm the prestige of a high-profile cultural event, which as a destination we are very proud to organize and host. We welcome this new important edition of the Costa Smeralda Award, which again this year marks the start of the tourist season in the name of great culture and its protagonists in Costa Smeralda.”
As usual, in addition to the books chosen by the jury, three further awards are foreseen: the Mediterranean Culture Awardawarded to a personality who has distinguished himself for the valorization of the cultures of our sea and the peoples who inhabit it, which this year goes to Mariasole White. Scientist and popularizer expert in the conservation of the marine environment, also protagonist of her book Pianeta Oceano (Rizzoli), Mariasole Bianco is co-founder and president of Worldrise, a non-profit organization that has been acting for over a decade for the effective conservation of the Italian seas by facilitating a positive change that (re)connects people to the sea, creates awareness about the importance of the ocean and materializes in collective commitment for its protection. After the victories of Nobel Orhan Pamuk and Emmanuel Carrère, the International Award for 2024 it goes to Alicia Giménez-Bartlett: one of the most read Spanish writers of recent years, much loved in Italy also thanks to the character of Inspector Petra Delicado, played by the actress Paola Cortellesi, protagonist of the Sky noir series of the same name, and now ready to return to the alleys of Barcelona with the long-awaited new chapter of the series, “The woman who runs away”, coming out at the end of April again with Sellerio.
Among the many voices of contemporary culture who confirmed their presence in Porto Cervo for the public award ceremony, also that of a multifaceted artist like Psalmstage name Maurizio Pisciottu, who this year won the Special Prize. Rapper and record producer from Olbia, he began his musical career at just 13 years old and became known to the general public since his first album, which mixes electronic sounds and 90s rap, a distinctive and revolutionary trait for the Italian rap scene . A pioneer of the Italian rap scene, he is currently busy filming the new season of Blocco 181 – in which he holds the dual role of actor and musical supervisor – Salmo is about to start the “Hellraisers” summer tour alongside Noyz Narcos, an opportunity to retrace their successes and listen to the songs from the joint album CVLT live for the first time. The tour will see them protagonists of two special event dates in Milan (15 June) and Rome (21 June), as well as the main summer festivals, including the Red Valley Festival in Olbia on 17 August.
“The Costa Smeralda Award confirms its independence and quality of judgment once again in this edition. The jury’s work allows us to bring to attention books and characters that embody the many souls of contemporary culture, taking a look at young people and the different sensibilities that are often overlooked. In short, an award that looks to the future without forgetting the quality and experience of the past, just as the Costa Smeralda wants to do” – he declares Stefano Salisartistic director of the Prize.
As a symbol of the awarding of the Costa Smeralda Prize, in addition to a cash prize for the winners again this year, during the final ceremony conducted by the journalist Roberta Floris, a work by the sculptor Giuseppe Sanna will be delivered, consisting of a naturally shaped stone for each category, basalt for the Fiction, trachyte for the Nonfiction, granite for the International Award, marble for the Mediterranean Culture Award and limestone for the Special Prize. The Costa Smeralda Prize is the first literary prize that uses the stone as an emblem. Expression of the bond with the territory, symbol of concreteness, solidity, ability to resist over time, the stones typical of the Sardinian landscape and forged by nature, are of different geological expression, because each author is different from the other, unique and unrepeatable. Stones united by a crystal base that recalls the color of the Costa Smeralda and its renewed appointment with contemporary culture.
Partner and main sponsor of the event is Smeralda Holding. The operational organization, scenographic setup and production of the award event is entrusted to Filmmaster, who also created the logo, the coordinated graphic image and the concept of the material award.
